David Aldridge: LeBron getting us all worked up for Decision 2.0, only to let us down and stick in Miami? Amazed at the coincidence that LeBron loves Shabazz and Miami ends up with Shabazz! That's incredible! Certainly, if you're a Miami fan, you're less stressed out this morning. It certainly looks better. Shabazz will help, in terms of keeping LeBron happy. It all comes down to what Wade is willing to do. If he takes that major haircut, then I think they'll both stay. It's all about D.Wade. Easy to tell someone else to give up $41 million. We'll see what they can do. If they can, they should be alright and keep the band together. Why leave and tempt fate? Other places sound great in theory but more work than he should have to undergo at this point. No doubt. Family considerations as well. They like it Miami. Miami still has work to do but they're off to a good start. If you hear Tuesday or Wednesday Ariza is coming for the mid-level, you'll know Miami is alright. If you hear something like that, they're in good shape and LeBron will stay. Team poised to strike, even if they don't get LeBron (or 'Melo)? I look at Phoenix. No one talks about them. They got room. I think they have a chance to be a player this summer. They have structure in place. They play a system players love to play in. They had success last year. They have a group of young players that like playing that style, they had a good draft last night, to me Phoenix is well prepared and historically one of the places players like to go to. The Suns are well poised to make a run and I like what Denver did last night. Getting Afflalo and making the trade, bringing in Gary Harris, they had a strong night. I like what they did in the trade with Chicago. If they can be healthy, they'll be at the forefront of the West next year.
It is probably stupid, but the Heat getting Napier took some of the wind out of my sails, lessening the slimmest of chances the Rockets already had at LeBron. Not that Napier is some great player, but it gives Riley something "positive to say" to Lebron with regards to making moves to bolster the roster.
I still think Lebron takes a look at other teams and all i want is for us to have a meeting with him.
It's weird to me that all these other Western teams like Denver and Phx who are worse than the Rockets get consideration from reporters with nothing but positives listed when the Rockets are poo pooed for being in the West, having players who want the ball, etc.
Napier isn't even that good. Riley just looks pathetic for going all out for a dude on Lebron's twitter feed. Napier is a non-story (and overrated)
So Ariza is going to be the linchpin? (guessing that the Lowry option is priced out). I don't see how Ariza makes the Heat all that much better. Those 3 guys going to take pay cuts for the services of Ariza? smh
That's the thing. It doesn't matter what kind of player Napier is. If it makes Riley "look good" in LBJ's eyes, gives LBJ one more reason to TRUST Riley to improve the team, then Riley has done his job. The goal is to get LBJ to stay first and foremost. Riley's work isn't quite done then, because LBJ will probably make it work out that he can opt out after next season, but it gives Riley more time to work with.
You kidding? Ariza would be a big add for them. Ariza getting minutes that were going to Rashard Lewis or washed up Shane Battier would be big for them. Also recall that Wade ripped up Indiana and had played well against Brooklyn and Charlotte the first two rounds. He looked really bad defensively against San Antonio but his decline is being exaggerated a little. Bringing in a plus defender to take some of the defensive load off of Lebron would be big for the Heat.
Heh, if a late first round rookie is enough to make a GM "look good" in LBJ's eyes and make him think that they'll improve then he's pretty naive. Now if somehow Pat talks Bosh and Wade into opting out and taking 10 mil a year so that the team has money to improve the team, then I'd be impressed.
He would be a plus addition. But it feels like PG/Post defender is where the big deficiencies lie. That's why Lowry is the real lynchpin addition if they can swing it.
People hate on Ariza but the shoes the Rockets gave him were WAAY too big for him. As a team player, a rotational guy, that guy is great. I'd love to have him on this team again. Plays defense, doesn't get too selfish most times, plays hard, and can get extremely hot. He's not even a 3rd option but he's the role player everyone would love to have on their team. I think right now Miami is already winning, it seems like they are doing all they can to please him and keep him at the moment.
I agree. All's Pat needs is to get Lebron to resign. He has to rebuild Lebron's trust that the team is heading in the right direction and it's worth sticking around for. Lebron loves Napier and thinks he will help the Heat in a weak area. Whether he can actually play is TBD just like the others. If he is a bust, it will be too late and Lebron can't pin it on management because he was a big supporter too.
Thing is about Ariza, the Wizards really want to keep him. Clearly Gortat is their priority 1A but they said Ariza is 1B. They got playoff success last year. Ariza is a UFA and can do what he wants, but my guess is that the Wizards will offer Ariza MORE than what the Heat will. So will Ariza take less to play on Miami? And how much less?
This is about marginal edge. Lebron does NOT want to leave Miami. He's friends with Wade and Bosh, his family is in Miami, and he has a good relationship with the Miami organization and FO. This is about taking a situation where Lebron could be on the fence and swayed, versus giving Lebron that extra little bit of push that inclines him to stay. Riley can point and say that they got two upgrades over Chalmers, shored up the PG position, and that he's willing to do whatever is necessary to improve the team and make Lebron happy. If Lebron was already unhappy that wouldn't be enough to sway him in the other direction, but when you're right on edge and can go either way, it doesn't take much to tilt someone's decision one way or the other. So no, it doesn't seem like a big move, but it's exactly the kind of move that makes Lebron feel like Riley is working on his behalf. And in a league where 30 teams promise the moon to their stars and many can't or don't deliver, that counts for something. Now it's still going to come down to Wade and Bosh working out something as well, but it never hurts to give yourself a little more capital in the negotiation. In other words, you might get away with doing a little less to achieve the same result, IE, Lebron staying.
Where will Lebron James Play his first game of the 2014-2015 NBA Season? Miami Heat 1/6 Cleveland Cavaliers 5/1 Los Angeles Clippers 10/1 Houston Rockets 12/1 Los Angeles Lakers 12/1 Chicago Bulls 20/1
Apparently today the Wizards' Martell Webster got back surgery and is out 5 months. Makes it even more imperative that the Wizards bring back Ariza. I am sure their offers will be much more than the Heat will be able to offer.
If it's for purely basketball reasons, then Lebron would be stupid to stay in Miami. At least with an aging Bosh and a breaking down Wade. He's in a tough spot right now, leave and be villified again even though it's the right move for him. He's lost 3 finals already. 2-3. Most players would take that, but not him. Riley would have to flip Wade for Love or Melo for Bron to stay there. He can't possibly be convinced that this roster as presently constructed is going to win more titles, especially after the way they got their doors blown off by the Spurs.
Tom Haberstroh thinks they all return but Wade opts in. Howard Beck on FA predictions: Spoiler <script height="354px" width="630px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=hiZHZobjox5n-dg-MwC-AVTuvizcEkJt&pbid=MDYzZmYzZjIwNTA0YjI4Y2YyM2JmNTgw"></script> Carmelo - Chicago Lowry - Toronto Stephenson - Indiana Deng - Washington Gortat - Washington James - Miami Wade - Miami Bosh - Miami
That's because there is no reasoning behind Wade doing that. He's broken...he won't get a chance to make this much money ever again. Most of the people thinking Wade will opt out with ease don't like in the real world (or are just huge LBJ haters).
